Gearing up for the Redblacks

Karen Turner, OTTAWA CITIZEN03.05.2014

Better yet, keep it on when cold winds blow across the field. I found this bargain toque on clearance for $7 at Walmart. For other headgear, including ball caps and knit beanies, sweatshirts and key chains with the team logo on them, shop the online store at ottawaredblacks.com.

This Field Camp Irish Setter vest is a modern twist on the classic red-and-black lumberjack shirt. Perfect for cool fall games, it’s priced from $79.99 at Sail in the Ottawa Train Yards.

Play ball like the pros with the Wilson CFL Official Football made of hand-stitched leather. $99.99 at Sports Experts.

Show your home team pride by wearing Redblacks on your chest. Priced from $12.99 at Target, cotton T-shirts are available in various styles for men and women.

No chance of getting tired from applauding or cheering on the team with a set of these plastic hand clappers. Sold in multi-packs from $3.99 at Party City.

Though focused on the American rules, Football for Dummies by Howie Long and John Czarnecki ($23.99 at Indigo/Chapters) is a great primer for understanding the game..
/ Supplied Photo

The Ottawa Redblacks aare calling on the public's help to find a name for their new mascot.JULIE OLIVER
/ OTTAWA CITIZEN

OTTAWA — Hey football fans: There are less than five months till the Ottawa Redblacks kick off their first season in the Canadian Football League.

The return of pro football to Lansdowne Park — it’s now called TD Place — has been years in the works, but the new outdoor stadium and home football team promise to be the highlight of the summer.

In what has felt like the longest, coldest winter in recent history, it may be hard to imagine sunny afternoons at the park eating hotdogs and watching burly men in tight pants kick, run and throw the pigskin up and down the field. But according to the team’s official website, ottawaredblacks.com, their first scheduled game is June 14.

To help get geared up for the coming football season, here are a few fun finds for fans.

Mad about plaid

This Field Camp Irish Setter vest is a modern twist on the classic red-and-black lumberjack shirt. Perfect for cool fall games, it’s priced from $79.99 at Sail in the Ottawa Train Yards.

Tee up

Show your home team pride by wearing Redblacks on your chest. Priced from $12.99 at Target, cotton T-shirts are available in various styles for men and women.

Go long

Play ball like the pros with the Wilson CFL Official Football made of hand-stitched leather. $99.99 at Sports Experts.

Give them a hand

No chance of getting tired from applauding or cheering on the team with a set of these plastic hand clappers. Sold in multi-packs from $3.99 at Party City.

Hat’s off

Better yet, keep it on when cold winds blow across the field. I found this bargain toque on clearance for $7 at Walmart. For other headgear, including ball caps and knit beanies, sweatshirts and key chains with the team logo on them, shop the online store at ottawaredblacks.com.

Brush up on the basics

Though focused on the American rules, Football for Dummies by Howie Long and John Czarnecki ($23.99 at Indigo/Chapters) is a great primer for understanding the game.

Did you know ...

The name Redblacks gives a nod to Ottawa’s past as a lumbertown. Hence, the mascot is a muscle-bound lumberjack with a chiselled chin and red-and-black checkered shirt. Team management has asked the public for name suggestion for the axe-wielding logger, who some folks flippantly note bares a strong resemblance to Brian Mulroney and Jay Leno. Among the pitches: Big Joe Mufferaw, Lonie the Lumberjack and Timber Tom. You can submit your ideas to the team website.

As for the sawblade on the team logo, John Ruddy, governor for the Redblacks, said it “represents many of the characteristics we hope our players will demonstrate: speed, unstoppable force, precision, balance, strong-as-steel and even dangerous.”

By the numbers

24,000 Number of seats in the new outdoor stadium

$5,998.88 Cost of two season tickets in the premum club seating

8 How many years it’s been since Ottawa’s last pro team, the Renegades, played in the CFL

19 Number of weeks in the regular CFL season (June to November)

63 The number of signed players on the Redblacks’ roster to date

Comments

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.